Wine can bring out the best in food, and yes, that does include seafood, but it&rsquo;s not only white wine that pairs well with seafood, despite the popular misconception, some red wine pairs well with some seafood. When you are choosing wine to pair with seafood, you should pay more attention to the wine notes, sweetness and dryness, than the color of the wine.

So how do you choose which wine pairs well with seafood. Certified sommelier, Michaela Quinlan reviews the wine list at Oceana where she reviews the list and offers pairing suggestions.

The wine list at Oceana is an extensive, award-winning 33-pages. A list of this size would take quite some time to navigate, but Michaela quickly identifies fabulous standout wines from around the globe and offers a few tips on pairing wine with seafood to help you make a wiser and tastier choice all in under five minutes.

Let&rsquo;s start with the bubbles because who doesn&rsquo;t like adding a little sparkle to the beginning of the meal?

All of the sparkling whites, whether French, Italian or Spanish,&nbsp; Champagne, Prosecco, Cava, will complement fried dishes like calamari, or any seafood fried and cooked in batter, but these bottles also pair deliciously well with caviar.&nbsp; At Oceana, you can order several by the glass, including&nbsp; Prosecco, Palidin, Extra Dry, Millesimato, Veneto, Italy 2020.

Moving on to the more obvious choice of white wine with seafood, to choose wisely, all foodies should understand which whites pair well and why. For example, a dry white wine like pinot gris or sauvignon blanc pairs best with meaty fish like cod and tilapia.

Moving on to the Spanish whites Michaela recommends the Albari&ntilde;o,&nbsp; Valtea, R&iacute;as Baixas, 2020.

The traditional cuisine of Portugal and Spain are seafood rich, so it makes sense that the local varietals of albarino and veldehro pair well with shellfish dishes of mussels, crab, scallops and lobster. These wines are light and fresh with notes of lemon and the right acidity and crispness, to complement the delicate flavors of the shellfish. Just as shellfish should not be overcooked, the wine should not overpower.

If chardonnay all day is your comfort zone, you are in good company. Chardonnay is popular for good reason. These fuller whites are heavier than the pinot gris or sauvignon blanc, but work well with bass, oysters, salmon, and even lobster. The heavier the seafood the more full-bodied the wine is a good rule to follow. At Oceana, the Chardonnay, Saint-V&eacute;ran, Domaine Luquet, Burgundy, 2020 is a good way to go.

Interested in more wine tips and recommendations? Click the link and listen to <a href="https://corkrules.com/episode/details/3">the podcast wine review</a> of Oceana.

Cheers.

Wine can bring out the best in food, and yes, that does include seafood, but it’s not only white wine that pairs well with seafood, despite the popular misconception, some red wine pairs well with some seafood. When you are choosing wine to pair with seafood, you should pay more attention to the wine notes, sweetness and dryness, than the color of the wine.

Wines that Pair Well with Seafood at Oceana

Wines from grapes grown in higher altitude areas with cooler climate has become quite the trend recently. This specific growing environment gives intense flavor but elegance and freshness to the final wines. To highlight and champion these conditions more and more winemakers are starting to use alto as a marketing and labelling term to show their grapes were grown in high altitude vineyards.

Decoding the wine label: Alto

Brut is a word often seen on labels for different kinds of sparkling wine. As you may have discovered when drinking these wines, it indicates that the wine is dry, meaning there is no perceived sweetness in the wine. But how about Extra Brut or Dry, what do they mean and are they the same as Brut?

Decoding the wine label: Brut

Semi-sweet Riesling, a type of wine falling out of style. It’s a shame, since these wines are perfect to pair with flavorful cuisines like Asian or Mexican, or simply drink as they come under the summer sun. The higher level of sugar left in the wine also means that the alcoholic fermentation was stopped before finishing, providing a wine with lower alcohol level and therefor easier grabbing a second glass of.

Decoding the wine label: Spätlese

Have you ever heard the word Xinomavro? Most have not. It is however a word on many sommeliers’ lips today, as it happens to be considered the grape variety with the highest quality in Greece, and one that is trending at the moment. The fact that Greece have been making wine for a long time comes as no surprise, but they have never exported an amount to make sure wine lovers around the globe tried it. With the growing wine tourism many have discovered these wines and are serving them in wine bars and restaurants in many countries today.

Decoding the wine label: Xinomavro

Chianti Classico, Valpolicella Classico, Soave Classico… Why do all these Italian wine regions have the Classico addendum and what does it mean? What is the difference for wines labeled as Classico?

Classico is a wine term in Italy seen on a few wine labels and it indicates that the wine’s from the historic center of the region, the heart. Using Chianti and Chianti Classico and their Sangiovese-based red wines as an example, Chianti is a rather large wine district within the Tuscany region. Chianti Classico is located withing Chianti as the central part and the one that originally existed. Back then this smaller region was actually called Chianti, but as the region grew the quality of the wine plummeted and the well-known characteristics of these red wines were watered down. The reputation took a hit and sales diminished. Eventually this led to the creation of Chianti Classico, which would be drawn from the original Chianti borders to recover the typicity of these wines. Today the quality of both Chianti and Chianti Classico have risen a lot due to modern techniques and knowledge about pruning, planting and temperature control in the winery.

Decoding the wine label: Classico

In the rarefied world of fine wine, where bottles can command prices equivalent to luxury cars, authenticity is everything. Laurent Ponsot's gripping memoir "FBI: Fake Bottle Investigation" reads more like a high-stakes thriller than a traditional wine book, chronicling his relentless pursuit of one of the wine world's most infamous counterfeiters, Rudy Kurniawan.

From Burgundy's Vineyards to the FBI's Most Wanted: A Winemaker's Quest for Justice

Chablis – one of the more popular styles of wine today and a region known by many. Most are familiar with the word Chablis and the light, fresh white wine with a touch of minerality it brings. Even though it’s a renowned wine, few knows what it really is.

Decoding the wine label: Chablis

Many grape varieties around the world of wine have names local to the region or country they’re grown in, even though they’re exactly the same. The most famous example would be Syrah in France where the same grape is named Shiraz in Australia. Another variety with two names is Pinot Grigio, or Pinot Gris.

Decoding the wine label: Pinot Grigio

Have you ever seen the term sur lie on a wine label? It’s not a grape and not a wine region, but a winemaking method used to give certain styles of white wine a rounder texture and a more complex flavor profile.

Decoding the wine label: Sur lie

Frenchie Wine Bistro

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas visit Frenchie Wine Bistro in Boston where they review the wine list and offer pairing suggestions. 

Wine List Review of Frenchie Wine Bistro in Boston

Michaela Quinlan

Frenchie Wine Bistro:

RT: Hello and welcome to CorkRules!&nbsp;

A podcast where, in each episode,&nbsp;we will review a wine list from your favorite restaurants. I&rsquo;m your host Robert Tas along with Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier. Hello Michaela,&nbsp;it&rsquo;s great to be back together for another episode.

MQ: Hi Robert!

RT: Before we jump in, let&rsquo;s talk about CorkRules.

We created CorkRules to demystify wine lists because we know from experience that sometimes when we get that&nbsp; list handed to us, well&hellip; it can be intimidating, and even a little daunting.

Our aim is to help prepare you to navigate that list, find those hidden gems, or value wines or that special bottle that will take your dining experience over the top.

RT:&nbsp;So, sit back and listen as we review your favorite wine list.

RT: Today we are talking about Frenchie Wine Bistro. Located in Boston&rsquo;s South End, Frenchie&rsquo;s is the place to relax, meet friends, and enjoy a French inspired menu. Michaela, I can&rsquo;t wait to hear what you think of their wine list?

MQ: This predominately Old World wine list organizes selections by style, and showcases a number of favorites.

RT: That&rsquo;s really great, as you looked at the list did you see anything jump out at you?

MQ: Let&rsquo;s begin with a favorite destination in the Loire Valley, known as Vouvray. The 2019 Vincent and Tania Careme &lsquo;Spring&rsquo; Vouvray. The grape in this dry white wine is Chenin Blanc and features ripe peach, tangerine, and green apple, along with aromas of white flowers and a mineral finish.

I mention minerality often, and this is the dryness that you taste in a wine, many define it as chalk dust, or I liken it to the smell when the first raindrops hit the sidewalk on a hot day. This comes from the soil composition in each growing region. Here in Loire, you will find limestone and schist, so certainly the grapes will take on these characteristics. This minerality is one of the reasons why this wine pairs beautifully with shellfish and seafood.

RT: That is for sure unique. Did you find any others that caught your eye right away?

MQ: Another famous French wine region is the Northern Rhone.&nbsp; Do consider the 2019 Domaine Lionel Faury Syrah, from the Saint-Joseph appellation of the Northern Rhone. This full-bodied Syrah features rich ripe blackberries, black cherries, and plumb with smoke, leather, and a hint of nutmeg on the finish. This wine is meant to pair with richly sauced and herbed dishes, along with anything from the grill.

RT: So Michaela, their list seems to have lots of range but was there anything that you would say is a &ldquo;must-try&rdquo; ?

MQ: The Loire Valley features one of my favorite appellations, Chinon. The 2020 Chateau Du Petit Thouars, Chinon &quot;Les Georges&quot; Cabernet Franc. I enjoy the balance of fruit and earthiness of this wine. The ripe cherries and strawberries pair with black olives, black pepper, and earth, making this an excellent pairing for herbed and savory dishes.

RT: These are some great calls. So you know I&rsquo;m getting thirsty and will need to order a bottle with my dinner, where would you guide us?

MQ: Many may think of Provence only for their stellar rose, however, Provence produces standout red and white wines as well. A white wine to consider would be the 2020 Clos Saint Madeleine Cassis Blanc which consists predominantly of Marsanne and Ungi Blanc. This dry, medium-bodied blend features aromas of white flowers and honeysuckle, along with flavors of lemon curd, ripe peach, and lime zest, along with bright acidity and a mineral finish. Being fuller-bodied, this wine would pair beautifully with dense fish such as salmon and tuna.

RT: Ooh, Terrific.

Michaela, speaking of price, sometimes people have a budget in mind..&nbsp; any other great value wines you&rsquo;d point us to?&nbsp;

MQ: I always look for quality/value wines, and when you find a top sparkler in there, you have to go for it!&nbsp; Do consider the Caneva da Nani, Col Fondo Valdobbiadene, Glera from the Veneto. Glera is often the grape used in Prosecco. This Glera is light, dry, citrusy, and refreshing. This is a wonderful way to begin your dining experience or if you are considering any shellfish, cheeses, or fried dishes, look no further. A fun, light sparkler at an excellent price.

RT: That sounds great. What is your other value selection?

MQ: We had some fun with that sparkler, now let&rsquo;s get serious and head to Cahors in Southwestern France. The 2016 Domaine du Prince &quot;Le Plaisir du Prince, Malbec, from Cahors. This bold and rich Malbec features ripe plumb and dried blackberries, with cinnamon and clove. This is your selection to pair with richly sauced proteins.

RT: Now Michaela, what if I have a big client dinner or special occasion where I want to take it up a notch?

MQ: If you are considering a dessert wine to add to your special event and are having difficulty deciding, one to consider would be the 2016 Planeta, Passito di Noto, from Sicily. Passito is the Italian word for raisin. Much like other late harvest wines, such as Sauternes, the Moscato grapes in this dessert wine also over-ripen to maintain natural sweetness. Featuring aromas and flavors of apricot, mango, honey, and tropical fruit, this dessert wine is the perfect pairing with dessert, cheeses, and any special occasion.

RT: Michaela, thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate Frenchie Wine Bistro&rsquo;s wine list. I can&rsquo;t wait to go try them myself.&nbsp;

To our audience, thank you all for joining us here on CorkRules.

If you would like us to review one of your favorite restaurants, please send us email to: <a href="mailto:Info@corkrules.Com">Info@CorkRules.com</a> or visit our web website where we have a request form available and we will do our best to get it in the queue as quickly as possible.

We are looking forward to being with you on another CorkRules episode soon. In the meantime, please check out our website for other episodes of your favorite restaurant wine lists.&nbsp;

And finally, drink what you love and please make sure you drink responsibly.

Thank you.

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Alba

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Matteos Ristorante Italiano

Matteo's

That's Why! is a family-owned winery located in Puglia, Italy. We specialize in producing high-quality wines that showcase the unique terroir of our region.

Italian classics & weekend brunch served in a restored Victorian home with a romantic patio.

Eddy V's Prime Seafood Restaurant

The View

Il Capriccio

Clarity

Bellissimo Restaurant

Bellissimo

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Mirabelle Restaurant & Tavern

Mirabelle at Three Village Inn

learn

Join us each week as we pour a glass and share top restaurant ‘wine list’ picks, providing you with the knowledge to confidently navigate the ‘wine list’ through somm recommendations, suggested food pairings and masterclass insights.

Bella Saratoga

Belle Glos

Clark & Telephone Vineyard Pinot Noir NV

Pinot Noir

California, USA

Kesseler

August, Riesling Pfalz, Germany, Pfalz 2019

Riesling

Pfalz, Germany

Marchetti

Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico 2018

Verdicchio

Marche, Italy

Château de Berne

Inspiration Rose 2019

Grenache

Provence, France

Giesen

Riesling 2020

Riesling

South Island, New Zealand

Morca

Godina Garnacha 2018

Grenache

Campo de Borja, Spain

Ex Post Facto

Syrah 2019

Shiraz/Syrah

Santa Barbara County, USA

Ehlers Estate

Portrait 2017

Blend

California, USA

Caymus-Suisun

Grand Durif 2017

Durif

California, USA

Château Faizeau

Chants de Faizeau Montagne Saint-Emilion 2019

Blend

Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux, France

Rombauer Vineyards

Merlot 2020

Merlot

Los Carneros, USA

Hartford Court Russian River 2018

Sonoma County, USA

Flowers

Pinot Noir 2019

Pinot Noir

Sonoma Coast, USA

Goldeneye

Gowan Creek Vineyard Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley 2019

California, USA

Duckhorn Vineyards

Decoy, Napa Valley 2018

Sauvignon Blanc

California, USA